CrossBridge Church Westbury, NY

DEVOTED or DISTRACTED // 1. The Original Distraction

Genesis 3

Do you find yourselves being easily distracted? It may be a busy schedule, the kids’ sporting events, important appointments, school activities, and so on. We make commitments but our overwhelming distractions can lead us away from those commitments. What is our main focus? As believers in Jesus Christ our focus should be on Him, being Christ-like, being a Christ-follower, and being totally devoted to our Lord. Would you agree with me that life's distractions often interrupt our focus on having a relationship with God?

Today, we'll be looking at Genesis 3 and see the original distraction that lead Adam and Eve away from God. It was a simple but layered approach that led them to disobey God. This choice that had catastrophic consequences for them and for all mankind. They took their eyes off of God and misplaced their devotion. The result? Let's look together at today's text.

-Pastor Terry

LUKE // 54. Be Bold & Shameless

Luke 11:5-13

A couple of weeks ago we read of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was upset that she was doing all of the work around the house while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Martha thought it just wasn't fair that she was overwhelmed and busy while Mary did nothing to help. We know that Mary made the right choice by stopping to spend time with Jesus. But many of us often feel like Martha. We're too busy, and we have too many things on our schedule. "Everybody else" seems to have it all together while we just work, work, work. Stress is your first, middle, and last name.

In today's text, Jesus continues to respond to the disciples’ request from last week's message, "Lord, teach us to pray". Jesus has given them an outline, a pattern of prayer. Today He illustrates the importance of being persistent in prayer. In fact, we are to be bold and shameless when coming before the throne of God. We'll learn today that God gives us the assurance that persistence and boldness in prayer results in the following promise: "For every one who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." God is the one who lightens our burdens and meets our daily needs. How bold and persistent are you when you pray?

-Pastor Terry

LUKE // 53. The Disciples' Request

Luke 11:1-4

Our text this morning continues to press us to ask what is “actually important”. We learned last week that sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His Word is the one thing necessary in life. We commune with the Lord when we read His Word.  Another way to commune with the Lord is to spend time with Him in prayer. Luke is laying a foundation for every Christ-follower.

The disciples watched and followed Jesus and saw how close He was to God.  They desired this as well. In our scripture today they said to Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray." When they watched His life, they saw a life totally dedicated to God and in communion with God. Is that something you and I desire?  Does our Christian walk reflect a life that is dedicated to and in communion with God?  Perhaps we too need to say, "Lord, teach us to pray."

-Pastor Terry

LUKE // 53. First Things First

Luke 10:38-42

Our text this morning speaks of what is “pressing or urgent” and what is “actually important”. We all strive to do the things that are important to us, but we’re often distracted by things that are “pressing or urgent”– things that have to be done right now that aren’t necessarily a part of the central values of our life as a Christ follower.

So, how do we strike a balance between the urgent things and the important things? In today's passage Christ is teaching us, every Christ follower, what is important rather than what is urgent. Let’s ask ourselves this question: What is the one activity that you know if you did it with excellence and consistency, that would have a significant positive result in your walk as a Christ follower? I believe our text today will help us find the answer.

-Pastor Terry

LUKE // 52. Questions Answers and the Meaning of Life

Luke 10:25-37

Today as we remember the tragic events that happened 15 years ago, we get to look at a passage that is a great reminder of the many heroic events that happened that day. Our lives were changed that day as the events unfolded. We all felt the sting of those heinous acts that were committed in an attempt to strike fear in our hearts.

But today we are going to focus on the even more powerful acts of love that happened that day. As we look at Luke 10:25-73, we are reminded that the life of a Christian should be one that strives to help those who are in need. When people have been hurt Jesus reminds us that we should be moved with compassion to do whatever we can to help them. This passage will stretch out thinking in that we should not just strive to help the ones we love, but anyone who is in need. I hope you are challenged to live out your faith as you strive to love God and others.

-Pastor Nate

LUKE // 51. The Return of the 72

Luke 10:17-24

Last week in our text we saw Jesus commission as He instructed His heralds to pave the way for Him as he heads to Jerusalem. We were challenged to pray for the lost, memorize a promise from God word, and seek out someone close to you to share the gospel with. I hope that you have started to make these three things habits in your life this week.

In this week's text the heralds return to Jesus.  They are excited about the things that they have seen and experienced. Jesus upon their return will counsel them, rejoice while he teaches, and give the disciples a reason they should consider themselves blessed. I hope that you are challenged by today's message to love Christ and His word more. I also pray that this love for Christ and His word boils over into action that points other to Christ.

-Pastor Nate

LUKE // 50. Jesus Instructs His Heralds

Luke 10:1-16

As we continue our study in Luke we find Jesus giving instruction to and sending out those who would go before Him to declare the message that “the kingdom of God has come near.” We see that some will accept this message and some will reject, but those who were sent out were told to pray, persevere, proclaim, and prioritize no matter what happens to them or how they are received.

This passage shows us God’s love and care for His people. What an amazing reminder in today’s world where the message of Christ is still rejected that we need to stay the course of preaching this message and trust that God will reap His harvest in His time.

-Pastor Nate

LUKE // 49. Does Following Christ have Conditions?

Luke 9:57-62

As we continue with our study in Luke we are fresh on the heels of hearing the disciples being confronted on their pride. Now we are going to see Jesus interact with some who would say they want to be His followers, but they seem to have second thoughts when they hear what they will have to give up.

As we see this event happen in the life of Christ we are wise to stop and ask ourselves, "Do I believe that following Christ can have conditions that I set?" In today’s text we will see that some are only willing to follow Christ under their terms. In this text we not only get to see the conflict that these “disciples” have with following Christ, but we also get to see the love of Christ as He sees and speaks to the condition of their hearts. I hope you are encouraged to examine your life and ask the question, “Am I ready to follow Christ at any cost?”

-Pastor Nate

LUKE // 48. Humility: A Counter-Cultural Approach to Greatness

Luke 9:46-55

Recently, if you’ve read the news, scrolled through social media sites, or watched any amount of television, there has been much debate about greatness. Presidential nominees are declaring how they will be a great president, tech companies declare they have the next greatest invention, and news anchors discuss weather or not a particular Olympic athlete is indeed the greatest of all time.

But have you ever wondered how God defines greatness? In our text today, Luke will take us through three different stories that point out the truth about greatness as defined by God Himself.  

-Pastor Matt

WHEN TRIALS COME // Part 3 of 3. The Rejoicing Sufferer

Walking with God from the Inside Going Out: The Rejoicing Sufferer

Romans 5:1-5

As a church we have all experienced suffering at some level. But one of the great tragedies today is that the American Church has lost the understanding of the biblical theology of suffering, one that centers on the glory, the goodness, and the sovereignty of God. When we go through suffering it's really not about the suffering. God has a purpose for our trials, our hurts, and our sufferings. That purpose is to refine us, test us, and grow us.

In today's text Paul is writing to give a message of hope in the midst of suffering. Paul understands how easy it is to lose heart and to despair when life is hard. But his encouragement to us is to rejoice! There is hope in the glory of God.

-Pastor Terry